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A serving bowl with Korean cucumber salad.
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5 from 3 votes

5 Min Korean Cucumber Salad

This easy Korean cucumber salad (Oi Muchim) is ready in under 5 minutes. It is a refreshing, spicy, and tangy side dish that can be enjoyed with any Korean meal.
Prep Time5 minutes
Total Time5 minutes
Course: Appetizer, Side
Cuisine: Korean
Diet: Gluten Free, Vegan, Vegetarian
Freezer friendly: No
Shelf life: 1-2 Days
Servings: 4
Author: Samira

Equipment

Ingredients

  • 5 mini cucumbers or 1 large English cucumber
  • 2 green onion (1/4 cup sliced)
  • 2 cloves garlic minced
  • 1 Tbsp rice vinegar
  • 1 Tbsp soy sauce
  • 1 Tbsp sesame oil
  • 1/2 Tbsp sesame seeds raw or toasted
  • 2 tsp gochugaru (Korean hot pepper flakes/powder), adjust to taste
  • 1 tsp sugar optional
  • 1/4 tsp salt
US Customary - Metric

Instructions

  • Slice the cucumber into pieces around 1/8 inch (3 mm) thickness and transfer to a mixing bowl. If you use a mandoline, you can slice it directly into your mixing bowl.
  • Grate the garlic directly into the bowl or mince it on a chopping board. Chop the green onions. Add them to the cucumber.
  • Add the rice vinegar, soy sauce, sesame oil, sesame seeds, gochugaru (Korean hot pepper flakes), sugar, and salt.
  • Mix thoroughly until all the cucumber slices are well coated with the rest of the ingredients. Alternatively, cover the bowl with a plate or a lid and shake it.
    Enjoy the Korean cucumber salad as an appetizer, side dish, or snack.

Video

Notes

To store: This Korean cucumber salad is best enjoyed immediately. However, leftovers can be kept in the fridge for 1-2 days, and the excess liquid should be strained before serving.
Gochugaru substitutes: If you cannot find Korean hot pepper flakes/powder, use other chili flakes, but note that the heat level will vary. Gochugaru is fairly mild (between 4k-8k Scoville units). US "red pepper flakes" are much hotter (30k-50k Scoville units), so use less. Aleppo or Kashmiri chilies are potentially the best substitutes. Chile de Arbol may also work well (15k-30k Scoville units).
Adjust the elements to your taste. Add more or less hot chili flakes, balance the flavors with more sugar or omit it entirely, or add more soy sauce or salt for a saltier result. 
Check the blog post for some serving suggestions!

Nutrition

Calories: 62kcal | Carbohydrates: 5g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 4g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Sodium: 422mg | Potassium: 160mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 434IU | Vitamin C: 4mg | Calcium: 33mg | Iron: 1mg